Primates. Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Orangutans. Did you know that we share 99% of our DNA with these creatures? Yet that 1% makes people kill them. What gives us the right to kill and harm animals who are so much alike to us?
There are over 600 types of primate species and subspecies. They are held in captivity everywhere, in zoo’s all around the world, but primates are originally from tropical forests and jungles in Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and Africa. However, there are over 6000 primates kept in zoos across North America.
Some of the most populated species of primates are Chimpanzees, Gibbons, and of course, Humans. We are still harming these creatures environment.
Apes are the only animal (other than humans) that are known to create tools that benefit them. Gorillas have created a very famous tool: using a stick to poke into an insect hole. Then, after the insects crawl around the sticks, the gorillas use the stick as a fork-like tool that can help them get food. Another amazing tool was created by a primate species called a Capuchin monkey, native to South and Central America, who often use stone tools to crack open nut shells to get the food inside.
The primate that shares the most with humans, however, is the chimpanzee. A chimpanzee’s life can last over 40 years in captivity, but around 35 years in the wild. The oldest known chimpanzee was around 65 years old when she passed away. The chimpanzee population ranges from around 200,000-300,000 wild chimps who live in some African countries, while the USA has around 2,000 chimpanzees in captivity.
Chimpanzees are extremely intelligent, making tools and being quite resourceful. Some researchers have taught chimpanzees how to sign in a sign language, and the chimps have caught on quickly: communicating confidently with primatologists in this language. Chimpanzee’s have also been seen doing things that resemble human laughter and smiling. Often, when a baby chimpanzee is raised by a human trainer, they show immense affection and care for the trainer, as they would to their biological mother, even hugging to express endearment. As you can see, chimps are very much alike to humans, in many ways.
Primates need our help because of the way we have treated them and their habitats.
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